Kenya upgrades regulations for cross-border cargo transport

By David Ochieng, NAIROBI Kenya

The Kenyan government upgraded health regulations for public and cross-border cargo transport following an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the country.

Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia said all truck drivers in Kenya must be tested for COVID-19 two days before they begin their journey and obtain a certificate declaring them COVID-19 free. Macharia added that the drivers must undergo testing every 14 days.

Macharia stated that all truck drivers entering Kenya must also produce a certificate declaring that they are COVID-19 free and all truck drivers wanting to access the inland container depots or the port of Mombasa must also produce the certificate.

“As a region, we have agreed that henceforth, all truck drivers leaving, for example, our country going to the neighbouring countries have to be tested at least 48 hours before they leave Nairobi or Mombasa. That is important because by the time they get to Malaba (Kenyan border town), they have to show a certificate showing that they are COVID-19 free and that will be mandatory,” Macharia said.

Cross-border transmission of COVID-19 is a major concern for countries in the East and Horn of Africa regions. A number of Kenyan and Tanzanian truck drivers transporting cargo into Uganda have tested positive for COVID-19. Tension in the region then escalated after Uganda imposed strict measures on foreign truck drivers entering the country.

AT the same time, Macharia announced that the Kenyan government had increased the number of train coaches from 60 to 100 to complement the country’s public road transport system. Additionally, the government has commissioned a sanitizing tunnel which passengers entering the train must go through first.

The Kenyan government also procured a new ferry in late April to be commissioned on Thursday to begin operations immediately. Macharia said that acquisition of the coaches and new ferry was to offer additional space to ensure social distancing was adhered to.